Lamentations 3:22-23- Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.
Morning Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, I just thank you for a good night sleep, and waking me up this morning, as the old folk would say “clothed in my right mind” I thank you my Father for allowing me a fresh start. As we read in your word. Your Mercies are new every morning, cause my heart to be at peace, help my unbelief and restore me to be the best disciple of your word this day, In the matchless name of Jesus the Christ.
Kin Folk!
As we continue to study the book of Nehemiah chapter 5. We find Nehemiah amid, oppression caused by the brethren. The strong trampling on the weak, and the rich stealing from the poor. He begins this chapter by telling us that the people were complaining. A cry out came from the brethren, let us not forget these are the same people who built the city from ruins.
The first complaint was the need for grain to eat, the second complaint referred to the fact that some of the brethren had sold their land, vineyards, and houses to give them the resources to purchase grain to feed themselves and their families. The third formal complaint was concerning the borrower, who was completely beholding to the lender. They had taken their daughters and sons into slavery! And took their land, houses and vineyards leaving them with no way to even pay back. This, not from an outsider, no, not even a different country, but from their own kin folk!
All this havoc, destruction and oppression was brought on by their own brethren! The word of the Lord says this angered Nehemiah. Why, because this was their own brethren, they took their land, vineyards and enslaved their sons and daughters, and caused great depression and oppression in their own land!
Correction!
Therefore, Governor Nehemiah ordered that they be restored! “Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10 I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury! 11 Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.”
12 So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.”
Then I called the priests and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise. 13 Then I shook out [d]the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.”
And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. Then the people did according to this promise.
Day of Reckoning:
Once again Nehemiah Governed with integrity and concern, even he gave grain the people and lend them money, he took care of his servants. On the other hand, the other Jewish brothers who were wealthy took for them and enslaved them to gain more power and more control. Sound familiar?
I must think about this chapter as there are several life lessons, the first lesson it to take care of your own, with care and loving kindness. I think about today, and how each ethnic community is faced with something. But we need to build each other up not tear each other down!
As we continue in this chapter, I realize that Nehemiah involved the King of all Kings in his decision making on how to handle this situation. He made the brethren take an oath before God to restore all they had taken then so carefully summoned God and asked that he cause all those who do not obey and restore that which was taken, lose all that they have. So, he sealed the oath with a signature from the King of Kings. My, my….
Notice that some of the brethren, had no way to pay the lenders! But look at God and how he used Nehemiah, everything that was taken was restored. “Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.”
Prayer For Today:
Dear Heavenly Father
I pray this day Lord for restoration, and the wisdom to be kind to my fellow brethren. I pray Lord for a heart that will not use, abuse, and enslave my brethren. I pray for the ability to give, to support, to speak life into everyone’s situation, and not rob people of their joy, their peace, and their ability to be fruitful in the kingdom of God. I ask for complete restoration even this day, from my land that was stolen, my vineyards that were robbed, my olive groves that were destroyed my house that was not built and hundredth of my money and grain, I pray for my new wine and the oil that has been charged. I thank you for answering prayer for while we are still speaking you have already answered.
Amen
Our task for today is to speak only life, and believe God for he is not man that he should lie and he said in " Joel 2 – 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
